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HOW A PLAY IS PRODUCED

“Ouch! I did give myself an awful bang then.”

“You are supposed to enter left, miss,” says the producer waving her back.

“But I ca-a-n’t,” Katie mourns. “Can’t you see that I’ve broken my leg?”

“Then be more careful next time,” cries the producer. “Enter Gustav Vchelak.

Gustav Vchelak looks at his watch. “I’ve got to go and rehearse another part on the stage now,” he announces rather coldly. “I’ve wasted a whole hour already. Good morning.”

The dramatist feels as though he were guilty of some offence. Meanwhile it is discovered that in the absence of both George Danesh and Gustav Vchelak it is impossible to arrange a single dialogue except the following crisp one from the beginning of the third act:

Servant: “Mr. Vchelak, Madame.”

Clara: “Show him in.”

The producer repeats this short episode seven times, after which there is nothing for

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